Training in psychoanalysis is available at four member institutes of the Canadian Institute of Psychoanalysis (CIP) across Canada. The training consists of three components: personal analysis with a training analyst or authorized analyst* ( a minimum of four times per week for the Eitingon model, three times per week for the French model**, preferably having begun before admission and lasting at least two years for the French model); a four-year didactic programme; and weekly supervision with a Training Analyst for each of the three training cases. A Bachelor’s degree is the minimum education requirement for enrollment, a Master’s degree is preferred. Analyst-in-training (AITs) practicing in Quebec must be eligible for a psychotherapist licence. Applicants to the training programme are invited to three interviews with members of the Institute.
Certification in psychoanalysis marks the culmination of our tripartite model of psychoanalytic training. After meeting all requirements, analysts-in-training receive a Certificate of Training in Psychoanalysis, which allows them to become members of the Canadian Psychoanalytic Society (CPS) and the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA). The CIP training institutes are the only ones in Canada affiliated with the IPA. The local, national, and international organizations of the IPA offer opportunities to participate in workshops and conferences that present the latest developments in clinical psychoanalysis.
The decision to pursue training in psychoanalysis or psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a very personal one. The CIP institutes are here to help you identify the local institute and program that best suits your stage of professional development. They can also answer your questions and assist you with your application. To learn more about psychoanalytic training in Canada, please contact each local institute directly.
*‘Training Analyst’ is a title conferred by the CIP on training analysts authorized to provide analysis and supervision to candidates in training. “Authorized Analyst” is a title conferred by the Société psychanalytique de Montréal (SPM) on analysts authorized to provide analysis to analysts-in-training.
** The Institutes of QE, Toronto and Vancouver operate according to the Eitingon model. The Institut psychanalytique de Montréal (IPM) operates according to the French model. See the IPA website for further details.